By David Tyler
The Top of the World is now off limits to area residents who have used the elevated spot to watch the sunset – and to engage in other behaviors.
On Wednesday, the Manlius Town Board unanimously approved prohibiting parking along Hale Road on the east end of the town. Hale Road and neighboring Palmer Road have been given the nickname the Top of the World because of the vistas to the west and north that have become a popular place for people gather. Parking is already prohibited on Palmer Road.
Several Hale Road residents have voiced their concern to the town board that visitors have been trespassing on their land leaving behind beer bottles, cigarette butts and other litter. The number of cars parked along the narrow country road has also created safety concerns because of a sharp curve in the road that occurs at the bottom of a steep hill.
“I certainly understand people coming,” said Mary Kay Peters of Hale Road. “But people are not being respectful. People are not adhering to the rules.”
“Over the last five years, we’ve had a lot of people up here disrespecting our property,” said John Prizner. “This got to a point where we had to come together as a community.” Prizner said that at times there are 20 to 30 cars at a time parked along the road, sometimes until after 10 p.m.
The parking ban started a conversation between board members on whether the town should consider obtaining a parcel of land in the area that could be designated as a scenic overlook to allow those that want to peacefully view the sunset from that area a place to go without obtruding on the property rights of those that live there.
The town of Manlius does not own any parks, and currently has no department for parks maintenance.
